Canadian Saves Pittsburgh

The ‘burgh is my most loved city in the US. Populated by some of my favorite people on the planet. It’s great when a fellow Canadian can help out the sports-crazed folk in the city of three rivers.

TORONTO — Jim Balsillie , the 45-year old hockey fanatic and co-chief executive officer of Waterloo, Ont.-based Research in Motion Ltd., has signed a purchase agreement to buy the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Rumours have swirled about Balsillie perhaps moving the team Hamilton, which is close to his home and RIM’s head office in Waterloo, Ont., but he indicated Thursday that he plans to keep the team in Pittsburgh.

“Pittsburgh has shown itself to be an outstanding hockey market, and the team has an incredible tradition of success and fan support,” he said in a statement. “With young stars such as Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, we all know the Penguins have a very bright future on the ice. I look forward to owning this team for a long time in Pittsburgh.”